The Gold Award for the Commercial/Wholesale category at the 19th annual Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards went to Couplands Bakeries in Christchurch. Dad’s Pies in Silverdale scored Silver and Oxford Pies scored Bronze, while Napier-based Goodtime Foods was highly commended.
However, it was a Kiwi favourite that stole judges’ hearts to take away the hotly contested Supreme title. A potato top pie from New World Greenmeadows bakery in Napier won the coveted supreme pie award, beating out 512 other competitors. The awards were presented at a gala dinner in Auckland recently.
Described by the judges as a perfect ratio between a flavoursome filling, a super creamy potato top, and a delicious pastry shell, New World Greenmeadow’s entry edged out the competition in what was a very close run contest. Top New Zealand chef and celebrity Judge Martin Bosley said tasting it made him really nostalgic.
“I was immediately transported to my grandmother’s kitchen as a young boy when she would cook up her famous shepherd’s pie for the family,” says Bosley. “I was won over by how every aspect of the winning pie was executed to equal perfection.”
As soon as the awards were announced, punters started lining up for the supreme pie at New World Greenmeadow in Napier. The New World team said they were working hard to keep up with demand and were selling about 800 of the winning potato-topped pies on the first morning, a steep increase from the usual 100 pies they sell on average.
Bakels NZ Managing Director, Brent Kersel remarked how the quality of pie presentation and the level of creativity builds year on year. “We can see the level of passion that goes into the making of these pies and it is especially evident in the Café Boutique and Gourmet Fruit categories, where entries are veritable works of art. Every year, we see pies that deserve a place in the national art gallery.”
There were 49 awards presented at the 2015 Bakels New Zealand Supreme Pie Awards, including a Gold award for the Steak and Cheese category for Pak’n Save, Petone.
Popular presenter Dominic Bowden of Dancing with the Stars fame hosted the Speakeasy-themed evening, with celebrity presenters Haley Holt, Nici Wickes and Graeme Hill.
The baker of the Supreme Pie walked away with the coveted Supreme Pie Maker trophy and $7,500 cash, while Gold award winners received $1000 cash.
